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Fairfax axes regional group editors in Australian Community Media restructure

Australian Community Media, Fairfax’s suburban and regional newspaper publishing arm, has restructured its editorial team with a number of senior editors to leave the company.

The restructure, announced this morning by Australian Community Media’s editorial director Rod Quinn, follows the axing of six Western Sydney suburban titles and the departure of ACM director John Angilley late last year.

Fairfax:”Huge changes in recent years”

Under the new structure, a New South Wales Central division covering The Hunter, Newcastle, New England, the Illawarra and Sydney will answer to managing editor Chad Watson.

The NSW South Coast, Southern Highlands and West will answer to Kim Treasure in her role of managing editor for NSW South. Until recently Treasure was ACM’s acting group editor.

Andrew Eales will take the position of managing editor for Victoria and South-West NSW which includes Albury, Wagga Wagga and Griffith.

Mark Baker, Fairfax Tasmania’s managing editor, has had South Australia added to his responsibilities.

Leaving the company will be group editors whose roles have become redundant as a result of the restructure including Sydney suburban’s Paul Roberts, NSW West’s Tony Rhead, NSW Southern’s group editor Paul McLoughlin and SA group managing editor Brooke DuBois.

The Agricultural Publishing, Western Australian and Northern operations, the latter including Queensland, the Northern Territory and NSW North Coast, will be untouched, while the Canberra Times continues its shift to Fairfax Metro which includes the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Fairfax has been contacted for comment.

The memo:

Colleagues,

Today I am announcing changes to the senior management structure of ACM editorial.

A number of regions have been consolidated under four new managing editor positions.

Appointments to these roles are:

Managing Editor, NSW Central: Chad Watson

This group takes in the Newcastle/Hunter region and the New England and Sydney operating groups, as well as the Illawarra Mercury.

Managing Editor, NSW South: Kim Treasure

This group incorporates the South Coast, the Goulburn and Bowral clusters of the Southern Inland group and the Western NSW operating group.

Managing Editor, Victoria and South-West NSW: Andrew Eales

This group takes in Victoria and our South-West NSW operations centred on Albury, Wagga and Griffith.

Managing Editor, Tasmania and South Australia: Mark Baker

These appointments are effective from March 26, 2018.

The following managing editor roles are unchanged: Managing Editor, Agricultural Publishing, Brad Cooper; Managing Editor, Western Australia, Sean Cowan; Managing Editor, Queensland/NT/NSW North Coast, Dave Coren.

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all of our group managing editors.They have led our editorial teams through huge changes in recent years.

Some long-serving and highly regarded colleagues will be leaving the business in coming weeks. To Paul Roberts, Tony Rhead, Paul McLoughlin and Brooke DuBois, I say thank you for your service, leadership and professionalism.

John-Paul Moloney is staying with The Canberra Times as it transitions to Metro. Juanita Greville is moving to another position within the company.

It is important to note that while four of our managing editors will now have larger regions to oversee, the focus of our newsrooms on delivering local journalism for audiences online and in print continues as normal. Group working and sharing content and resources across relevant areas and adjacent mastheads will also be unchanged.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Regards

Rod Quinn
Editorial Director
Australian Community Media

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